EARTHQUAKE EVACUATION DRILL
POST ACTIVITY EVALUATION
A post – activity evaluation meeting was held right after the conduct of earthquake evacuation drill at Makati City Hall
The meeting was spearheaded by Engineer Edgardo Gundran PFMS-DEPW.
OBSERVATIONS IN THE CONDUCT OF EARTHQUAKE EVACUATION DRILL
Areas of Critique:
- Alarm System
a) Alarm used (chime) was not alarming (did not meet the purpose of being the alarm or to warn occupants the occurrence of an emergency)
b) Confusion in the alarm used, it’s not clear if it is an announcement or the start of the drill
c) Alarm from 14th up to 16th floor is defective: there is a need for preventive maintenance
d) Alarm in some areas are not audible or weak (5th floor of new building)
e) Lack of warning system in some floors (22nd, 21st, 9th, 7th & 8th )
f) Ambulance siren was observed to be longer than one minute (old building) that caused confusion to employees when to start evacuating
g) Alarm should be intermittent beep sound (for one minute)
h) Use of whistle while on-going siren
- Initial Response (Duck, Cover and Hold)
a) Not all offices participated in the Duck, Cover & Hold procedure
b) Not all were able to protect themselves during the evacuation process
- Evacuation Process / Participant’s Behavior
a) Other employees anticipated the alarm phase, and were seen leaving the building as early as
b) Some employees are already on the ground even before the drill
c) Floors 16 & 17 were observed already vacated their area before the start of the drill
d) Office of the GSD Chief were already closed at before the start of the drill
e) Some of the employees felt nervous; some of them are hesitant to move
f)
g) Other employees were observed to be not familiar with the drill
h) Some take not their designated route; some have no assigned searcher
i) Some team leaders remain in their position and did not go along with their group in evacuation
j) Some leaders did not perform well in their assignment
k) Participant’s behavior- not serious about the drill (laughing & chatting)
l) The evacuation is fast and no untoward incident happen
m) Some offices observed took the drill seriously (20th floor)
n) Buddy system among evacuees was observed
o) Some offices did not account their respective personnel
p) An employee from the 3rd floor asked the evaluator whether to leave the office
q) Lack of evacuation signage (old building)
- Incident Management
a) Command post should be established away from the building
b) Staging area, Triage, Collection area not identified
c) Command Post should not be blocking the traffic flow
d) The tent, chairs, tables at the command post blocked the way leading to the evacuation area
e) As of there is still no person in charge in the Incident Command Post; no information or liaison officer; no social welfare available
f) Designated persons at the command post were not present / available; evacuees are waiting for instruction
g) Lack of bulletin board/ whiteboard in the command post to post information and indicate details of the activities
h) Effective use of bullhorn in the area is necessary, and not the microphone (to consider power will not be available at the site)
i) There is a need for the use of two-way radio
j) Patient has been immediately responded by in-house medical team
k) Rescuers not aware of the location of command post
l) Arrival of Fire Marshals & Medics unrealistic
m) Failed reporting system – declared no casualty yet there was
n) Team Leader did not report at the command post
- Other Safety Measures
a) As observed, did not terminate all power, hallway only, some offices still have their lights on
b) Emergency lighting system failed to work (8th floor)
c) No lighting system (old building)
d) Individual whistle & flashlight for every employee is needed
e) Floor plan in the event of disaster designated every floor (old building)
f) No exit sign; fire extinguisher & medicine cabinet in case of emergency
RECOMMENDATION:
Alarm System / Notification
1) There is a need to improve the alarm system
2) The use of more alerting alarm
3) Should designate specific alarm for specific emergency (fire, earthquake etc.) that would really served to alarm all concerned
4) Design electronic warning / message paging to caution occupants
5) There is a need to establish a unique communication system
Conduct of Drill
6) Earthquake evacuation drill must be conducted regularly
7) Monthly drill for in-house brigade in addition to the annual observance of the drill
8) Practice per office should also be considered
Guidelines to consider
9) Distribute guidelines and floor plan for disaster preparedness
10) There should be a designated lane (slow lane and a fast lane) when evacuating in the staircase, considering elders; to avoid being caught in a stampede situation
11) There should be no over taking
12) There is also a need to consider emergency lane for rescuers
13) There is a need for proper dissemination of information on appropriate evacuation route
Training Needs / Safety Supplements
14) There is a need to establish in-house fire brigade / emergency response team for Makati City Hall
15) There is a need to designate a person in charge to handle in-house fire brigade / emergency response team
16) To consider incorporating other employees in the fire brigade / response team
17) Emergency Response Team should be positioned or located in the upper floors of the building considering it is faster to respond down the stairs than going up the stairs.
18) There is a need for proper training for the brigade / response team
19) There is also a need to provide appropriate training to marshals and office team leaders
20) There is a need for emergency equipment per office / department
21) There is a need for a pro-active plan to include in the AIP
22) There is a need to consider establishing a committee “Makati City
Post Activity Evaluation on Earthquake Evacuation Drill
General Assessment:
v Evacuation process completed within 19 minutes considering evacuating occupants from the 24th floor of the new building (one minute per floor) to the designated safe holding area
v Able to involved a large number of participants in the drill and outside response
v Able to utilize the available space of nearby streets as holding areas for evacuees.
v Active involvement of drill committees were clearly observed
v Drill was successful and safely conducted
v The Safety Committee has agreed that the Officer In-charge is Eng’r. Edgardo Gundran.
LIST OF EVALUATORS / OBSERVERS
1. Eng’r. Edgardo Gundran PFMS – DEPW
2. Eng’r. Elmer V. Acuesta DEPW
3. Eng’r. Anesia R. Torquator DEPW
4. Eng’r. Arnel L. Cadangan DEPW - CBO
5. Ferdinand B. Marcos DEPW - CBO
6. Connie N. Consulta DEPW-CPMO
7. Ma. Salvacion Magallanes DEPW
8. Lourdes
9. Dr. Cesar L. Nunez Makati
10. Olivia P. Caray HRDO
11. Leonida O. Palman HRDO
12. Jimmy T. Bacamante EEMO
13. Jingle Dela Rosa EEMO
14. Ryan Barcelo MSWD
15. Maribel M. Lumang MSWD
16. Dr. John Beltran OSMAK (Dep’t. of Emergency Medicine)
17. Dr. Millenium Fabros OSMAK (Dep’t. of Emergency Medicine)
18. Alvin V. Araza Makati
19. Ernesto G. Sison Makati
20. FC/Insp Gerry Berte BFP - Makati
21. FSInsp Pedro B. Espinosa BFP - Makati
22. FSInsp G. Tan BFP - Makati
23. FSInsp Rowena H. Gollod BFP - Makati
24. Sinsp Tito P. Purgatorio BFP - Makati
25. Insp Cesar Arjay A. Reyes BFP - Makati
26. Insp Panganiban BFP - Makati
27. SF03 Raphael B. Dumanon BFP – Makati
28. SF04 Ed Jabinal BFP – Makati
29. Edwin I. Aguilar Makati C3
30. Myrna A. Tubeo Makati C3
31. Aniolina Alison Makati C3
32. Juanito Peralta Makati C3
33. Manny M. Cardino Makati C3
34. Rodolfo E. Mondero, Jr. Makati C3
35. Anna Divina Javier Makati C3
36. Rholand Matias Makati C3
37. Elyneus Vetus Makati C3
38. Danilo Cornel Makati C3
39. Mary Lou Triste Makati C3
40. Sherwin Cruz Makati C3
41. Mark William Bocalbos Makati C3
42. Melchor Padilla Makati C3
43. Anthony Margallo Makati C3
44.
